Listening to the Voices in my Head

Solved one problem, only to have others

Ah, will the fun of tech ever stop?

I have been swapping out charge cords for USB devices. I did have a USB2 multiport hub, but it's not very efficient for USB3 devices.

You would think the solution would be to get USB3 hub or hubs (depending on the number of ports per hub). Well, yes.. sort of.

Powered down computer, unplugged devices from USB2 hub. Set up the two USB3 hubs. Plugged in the devices, started up the computer and waited.

The portable USB hd didn't get recognized. Swapped port on the hub, drive is found. Applied proper drive letter.

Naga Hex gaming mouse not recognized. Tried swapping ports, and waiting.. and waiting.. and waiting. No joy. Computer only recognized it when plugged into port on the computer, not the hub. Same with the HD Webcam.

Then, suddenly, my keyboard wasn't working except for a few keys and the media controllers. Unplugged and replugged it in. Nope. Rebooted. Ta da! Keyboard working again.


Had to juggle the Wacom tablet port assignment. It has its' own unique quirk. The tablet seems to need to have the wireless dongle in even if I want to use the cable, or else the tablet 'isn't there'.

As of now, I no longer have a USB cords in the front ports of the computer that the arm of my chair kept catching on.

I knew making that clean spot was dangerous

Yesterday, I selected a corner of the bedroom (my night stand area) went through what was on it, near it, by it, sorting and tossing a lot of things away, and putting things back where they belong. I even vacuumed off camera bags that had cat fur on them. Got everything squared away.. neat. Tidy.

Today, one of the cats hurked up one hair ball too many. I sighed, cleaned up the hairball, and looked at the rug. With all the stone/slate flooring, she chose to hurk up on the carpet. Another spot on the rug.

So, into Domestic Goddess Mode. Moved as much off the floor as I could without moving furniture. (desk chair isn't furniture, the sofa and bookcases are). Thoroughly vacuumed the carpet twice. Looked at it, and gave it another once over just to be sure.

Got out the carpet shampooer. It works great, but my biggest bugbear about it is it doesn't hold enough shampoo/water mixture and you have to empty the catch tank too often. So, 4 refills and empties later, the carpet is a new shade of color. Clean.

Wonder how long it will stay that way.

If you don't want a 'fair' rating then up your game.

I bought something from an online seller. Used item, CD. I didn't expect it to be pristine as it was a used CD, but it was listed as in "Very Good" condition.

It arrived quickly, and then I spotted the yellow Opened by Australia Post for inspection by Quarantine sticker on the front, and a PASSED one on the back where the package was resealed.

At first I thought it was just a random inspection. Then I opened it. I read the note about how it was flagged by canine inspection (aka sniffer dog) so they opened it. The item was dirty? (Whohuhwha..? How does one get a CD dirty enough to flag a sniffer dog? What was on it?).

Took out the CD, and my expectations dropped another notch. The CD case was cracked. Ok, that happens when sellers mail on the cheap, using padded envelopes. I have empty jewel cases just for stuff like this.

Then, I took the cd out. The playing surface was visibly scratched to the point I didn't know if it would play. Also, I saw what flagged the sniffer dog. It had something on the playing surface, spots of something that had been spilled on it. I checked what was left of the CD case, including the booklet and back. Nothing. So this wasn't grunge that happened during the trip, but before it was shipped.

So, I tell the seller about the condition. I get fed condescending platitudes and how *I* must be wrong, or have buyers remorse. At no time did I request a return or refund.

I left a 'fair' rating. Explained the scratches and spots, that the CD wasn't in very good condition, but in fair or maybe good.

So, what does seller do? Sends me a "woe is me, how could you do this to me?" sort of message, telling me I had buyers remorse and othersuch bullshit.

In short, I replied, telling her about the cracked case, the quarantine inspection caused by whatever foreign substance was on the CD and the quality of the CD not being what she claimed it was. And I included photos. Again, at no time did I request a return or refund.

I did, however, carefully clean the CD, put it in the DVD player and made a FLAC file with a cue sheet. Played it. I did hear a few flaws (slight crackle) during the playback. I stand by my assessment. Seller got a fair rating as the product wasn't as she described, it was mailed dirty, in a cheap padded envelope.

Buyers' remorse? No, but I think she had "Sellers' faux remorse because someone actually left honest comment."

Ageism sucks

When men get gray hair, they are called mature, distinguished, handsome.

When women get gray hair, we're called old, dated, crone, over the hill, past use-by date etc etc.

I have had gray hair since I was 17.. correction, I first noticed grey hair when I was 17. My youngest son, Alan, spotted his when he wasn't quite 12.

When I was in my teens and 20s, having the silvery locks in front of my ears was 'cool'. In my 30s, still ok. 40s? Not so much. Strangely enough, most of it is on the right side of my head. Brunette on one side, silver on the other? Uhh no.

So here I am into my 50s and I freely admit I color the gray. I'm quite sure there will come a time I will get tired of doing so, but until then..

Ageism sucks.

RIP Starman, thank you for visiting us.

Yesterday, David Bowie, after a year and a half battle with cancer, died. I knew he had been ill, but didn't realize it had been that grave.



To me, David Bowie was as immutable as the sun coming up the next day. Normally, I just post an brief obit of a celebrity I liked, but this goes beyond that. Bowie's music was a touchstone for me during a certain time of my life. I think it kept me sane and alive. Hardly a day went by without my humming, singing, or listening to something by him.

"Look up here, I'm in heaven. I have scars that can't be seen. I've got drama, can't be stolen. Everybody knows me now."

69 years on Earth... now the Starman has gone home. He will be much missed.